Jack Delano- May 1940, Durham, North Carolina The setting of this photograph is outside at a bus station or bus stop. The lighting is medium because it is under the shade but it is sunny outside. This setting looks suburban because it is not rural but it is not a big city either. There are people and there is a bus. It looks like it is afternoon. There are around 3 people outside the bus and maybe ten inside the bus. The man you see first looks around mid-thirties. There is a lady in the background who looks mid-forties. The man is wearing a white, long-sleeved shirt with suspenders and a white hat. The lady behind him is wearing a floral shirt. They are all African American. The distinguishing feature is that there are no white people in this photograph. Something that catches my eye first is that the man in the front is not looking at the camera and he is looking at something, distracted and furrowing his forehead. There are some buildings in the background outside of the bus station. They look in okay condition. They look large and fairly new. The spacing is actually tight because there are buildings on the streets and the area is suburban. A street and it looks like a flagpole that is surrounding the buildings and the bus station. The tone of this photograph is heavy, negative, and dark because there is segregation going on and the people look sad, especially the man with the white shirt. My response to this photograph is that it shows unfair action. It shows African Americans being segregated and it is unreasonable. They look sad and helpless. White people and African Americans weren’t even able to mingle. 1.)What is the man in the white shirt looking at? 2.)How did these people behave when you went to their section and took pictures?
Cynthia
John Vachon- April 1938, Halifax, North Carolina The setting of this photograph is outdoors. The lighting is bright and sunny. It looks like it takes place in a suburban town. It looks around late morning or early afternoon. There is only one person and he looks like he is around 10 years old. A distinguishing feature is that the park it takes place in looks very modern except for the sign on the tree that says “colored”. Something that catches my eye first is that the boy is drinking from a fountain that is next to a tree that has a sign on it that says “colored.” There is a large building behind the boy that might have been Town Hall and a small brick building next to him that might have been a public bathroom. The condition of these buildings are in fairly good condition because they look new. The spacing of these buildings are mildly tight because they are a few yards apart but I can’t see any other buildings because it is a park. The surrounding structures are just trees and it looks just like a small park or parking lot in the background. The tone of this photograph is heavy, negative, and dark because segregation is affecting young children as well as adults. My response to this photograph is sadness because it is pitiful to see a young child who is innocent being segregated. Segregation didn’t just affect adults, it also affected children who didn’t do anything to deserve it. My other responses were sympathy and pity because this little boy would never fit in with other white people. All of these “colored” children alike, have potential that would be wasted because segregation affects them all. Compassion is also a response because I feel deeply sorry for these children. Thankfulness is also a response because I am happy segregation does not exist as actively in our world today.
1.)Are you by yourself? 2.)(to the photographer) Did this sign compel you to think any differently about “colored people?”
Cynthia Marion Post Wolcott- August 1941, Birney, Montana The setting of this photograph looks indoors. It actually could also be outdoors. The lighting is fair. It looks like there is a light directly above this portion of the photograph. This photograph looks like it takes place in a suburban city or town, probably in a restaurant or bar. I cannot tell what time of day this picture is taking place in but it looks like it is late afternoon. I do not see any people in this photograph. A distinguishing feature in this photograph is the “God Bless America” sign in the middle of a segregated bar/restaurant. Something that catches my eye first is the sign that says “positively no beer sold to Indians.” It does not look like there are any structures in this photograph other than the building this photograph was taken in. This building itself looks old. The tone of this photograph is heavy, negative, and dark because the sign segregates Indians. My response to this photograph is anger because there is a God Bless America sign next to the sign that is segregating Indians. Under the words “God Bless America” there is the phrase “We are proud to be Americans”. This statement makes me mad. Why would anyone be proud to live in a country where there is segregation? Indians live in America too. Why are they still segregated? 1.)(to the owner of this restaurant) Why do you not sell beer to Indians? 2.)(to the photographer) How did seeing this segregating sign and the “God Bless America” sign together make you feel?
Sean K. Esther Bubley, 1943
This is a picture of a sign that says, "colored waiting room" at a Greyhound bus station in urban Rome, Georgia. This picture was taken during the day. There are no people in this picture. The thing that catches my eyes most is the sign it self. I think that the sign is completely wrong moraly. There are many businesses in the background around the sign, because it is in an urban town. This is a light picture, and I think it shows a bad view of that time. My response to this photo is that it is wrong in many ways. I would say this because it is the african americans that they may not sit in the same room or ride the same bus as the white people. Separating whites and African Americans incorrect. I do not think that that is right at all. All people in this world were created equally. They were not meant to separated or hated by each other. 1)Why did this one sign stand out to you? 2)Does this sign mean anything significant to you?
Sean K.
Marion Post Wolcott, 1939
This is a picture of a white only Farmers Café in North Carolina. This picture was taken during the day. This café is in the urban area of the North Carolina. There are two people in the picture. One is a mid-aged man were a shirt and tie, and the other is a waitress who likes in her twenties, and is wearing a dress. The waitress is serving the man his food in the picture. The thing in the picture that catches my eye is the Farmers Café sign in the window. The reason why is that the sign is so creative and colorful. You can tell that there are other buildings around it because there is a reflection of other buildings from the glass of the window. I think this is a negative picture because it is a white’s only café. 1) Did you take this picture because you thauht is was a very good way to show segregation or did you take it to show the cafe? 2)What intrigued you about this café, instead of all of the other cafés?
My repsonse to this picture is that it is a horrible picture. Whites and African Americans should be able to eat together. What is the big deal if you share a table with a african american? It is not right that you have to be seperated to eat food. I don't see what the big deal is if an African American sat down at one of those soda counters? Isn't everyone suppost to be equal?
Sean K.
Russell Lee, 1939
This is a picture of the Gem Movie Theatre for colored people in urban Memphis, Tennessee. The picture was taken during the day. There are no people in this picture. The thing that catches my eyes in this picture is the words GEM THEATRE. I would say this because the words are just written so big that it caught your attention so quickly. Since this is a picture of a sign, you are not able tell if there are any buildings around the theatre. This picture is in a mild manor. I would say this picture has a negative perspective.
My response to this picture is that it is horrible to have to have to different movie theatres because of a persons color. People should just put aside their differences and by happy. Why can’t people go to a movie together? Oh my god, what is the big deal if you sit next to a white man or a african american? Why must there be racial differences? Every one should just be happy and get along.
1)Have you ever been to one of these colored only movie theatres? 2)What part of this sign caught your attention the most?
Billy Hull
Dorothea Lange, June 1937
This picture was taken outside of the Rex Theater for Colored People. This was a more urban area of the town and it was taken during the day. In this picture, I only see a small building in bad shape that was reserved for African Americans. The first thing that catches my eye is the giant sign that says "colored people." This seems to me to be a major insult to African Americans. The tone of this picture seems negative because of the huge, insulting sign on the building and because that is the only thing in the photograph. This picture makes me upset because this was a very sad time in American history. African Americans were being segregated just because of the color of their skin. This racial hatred shouldn't have occured and should not occur in the future.
1) What were you thinking when you took this photograph?
2) How did taking this photograph affect your views on civil rights?
Billy Hull
Jack Delano, May 1940
This picture was taken inside a train station in North Carolina at a colored waiting room. The person in the foreground looks very sad and is turning away from everything. This was what caught my eye first and then I discovered the sign above the persons head. The person looks very enclosed inside the train station. The tone of this photograph is negative because the person looks sad and the rest of the photograph is very bleak. I think this defines segregation because blacks and whites were not even allowed to stand or sit next to eachother. Also, it shows how depressed and neglected the African American population was.
1) Why did you take this photograph?
2) Did you receive any comments by going to the "colored" side of the train station?
Billy Hull
Esther Bubley, September 1943
This picture was taken outside of a restaurant during the day in a rural area. The shack in the picture is very raggedy and has a sign saying "colored dining room in rear." The sign does catch my eye first because it definitely demonstates racial hatred. The shack is so beaten down and the roof looks like it is about to collapse. The shack is surrounded by woods and is in a very random position. The tone of the photograph is negative because the sign suggests that African mericans are not good anough to dine in the front of the restaurant. This photograph also upsets me because the white population is saying that African Americans are not good enough to even eat in the same room as them. Alo, they add another insult by posting this sign on a very dilapidated, old shack.
1) What was your initial reaction when you saw this picture?
2) Why was the shack in the middle of the woods?
Michaela Curry
November 25
Walker Evens- Summer 1963 -This photo was taken outside on a sunny day in urban Greensboro, Alabama.
-There are no people in this picture, it is only a store window saying how much food costs. What first caught my eye was the prices; juice for just 49 cents, potatoes for 10, and sugar for only 54 cents.
-A building in nice condition is in the picture, but you can't see if there is anything surrounding the shop; it is a close up on the window.
-This is a light, positive, light photo.
My response to this picture is that prices were a lot lower in Greensboro, Alabama back in 1963 than they are now in Connecticut in 2008. Also i wonder if alot of people are still buying because of the depression and loss of jobs.
QUESTIONS;
The first question I would ask is to the owner of the store and that would be how is the depression affecting your buisness?
Second I would ask is to the photographer and that is what intrested you to take this photo?
Marion Post Wolcott- October 1939 -This photo was taken outside on a sunny day in urban Memphis, Tennessee.-There are three African American men wearing suits and dress hats in their late twentys, and an older women in a skirtand coat. The first thing that catches my eye is that the sign says, "Hotel Clark, The Best Service for Colored Only," that seemed strange to me because we do not have segregation anymore.
-There is a colored hotel in the picture. It looks clean and like it would be nice inside. There are more shops and housing attatched to the brick building.
-The tone is light, negative, and light.
My response to this picture is that segregation was a normal part of everyday life back in 1939. That is so much differant than our lives now, now we dont have any segregation at all becasue every person is just as equal as everyone else. This picture is saying that this hotel was for colored people only and whites are not allowed.
QUESTIONS;
The first question i would ask is to the photagrapher and that is what intrested them about the scence, and are they for segregation?
Second i would ask the people whether or not they think that segregation and racism is right?
Russel Lee- November 1939 -This was taken outside on a sunny day in urban Waco, Texas.
-There are no people in this picture, only the sign to the Gem colored only Theatre. A distingushing feater in this is the soda bottle on the top of it, and what first caught my eye is the fact that it is an only colored theatre.
-There is a close up of a building in good contition in this picture, becasue it is a close up you can not see wheather any other buildings surround the theatre.
-The tone of this photo is light, negative, and light.
My response to this picture is how strange it is to think that there really was a time when blacks and whites were not looked at as equal. This is weird becasue today everyone is looked at the same becasue everyone is equal. But back in Texas in 1939 everyone was segregated because of your color.
QUESTIONS;
The forst question I would ask is to the photagrapher and that is do you think that segregation should be accepted, what intrested you to take this picture?
Second i would ask is to the veiwer and that would be have you ever seen a seperated movie theatre, do you think they still exist today?
Jack Delano- May 1940, Durham, North Carolina
The setting of this photograph is outside at a bus station or bus stop. The lighting is medium because it is under the shade but it is sunny outside. This setting looks suburban because it is not rural but it is not a big city either. There are people and there is a bus. It looks like it is afternoon. There are around 3 people outside the bus and maybe ten inside the bus. The man you see first looks around mid-thirties. There is a lady in the background who looks mid-forties. The man is wearing a white, long-sleeved shirt with suspenders and a white hat. The lady behind him is wearing a floral shirt. They are all African American. The distinguishing feature is that there are no white people in this photograph. Something that catches my eye first is that the man in the front is not looking at the camera and he is looking at something, distracted and furrowing his forehead. There are some buildings in the background outside of the bus station. They look in okay condition. They look large and fairly new. The spacing is actually tight because there are buildings on the streets and the area is suburban. A street and it looks like a flagpole that is surrounding the buildings and the bus station. The tone of this photograph is heavy, negative, and dark because there is segregation going on and the people look sad, especially the man with the white shirt. My response to this photograph is that it shows unfair action. It shows African Americans being segregated and it is unreasonable. They look sad and helpless. White people and African Americans weren’t even able to mingle.
1.) What is the man in the white shirt looking at?
2.) How did these people behave when you went to their section and took pictures?
Cynthia
John Vachon- April 1938, Halifax, North Carolina
The setting of this photograph is outdoors. The lighting is bright and sunny. It looks like it takes place in a suburban town. It looks around late morning or early afternoon. There is only one person and he looks like he is around 10 years old. A distinguishing feature is that the park it takes place in looks very modern except for the sign on the tree that says “colored”. Something that catches my eye first is that the boy is drinking from a fountain that is next to a tree that has a sign on it that says “colored.” There is a large building behind the boy that might have been Town Hall and a small brick building next to him that might have been a public bathroom. The condition of these buildings are in fairly good condition because they look new. The spacing of these buildings are mildly tight because they are a few yards apart but I can’t see any other buildings because it is a park. The surrounding structures are just trees and it looks just like a small park or parking lot in the background. The tone of this photograph is heavy, negative, and dark because segregation is affecting young children as well as adults. My response to this photograph is sadness because it is pitiful to see a young child who is innocent being segregated. Segregation didn’t just affect adults, it also affected children who didn’t do anything to deserve it. My other responses were sympathy and pity because this little boy would never fit in with other white people. All of these “colored” children alike, have potential that would be wasted because segregation affects them all. Compassion is also a response because I feel deeply sorry for these children. Thankfulness is also a response because I am happy segregation does not exist as actively in our world today.
1.) Are you by yourself?
2.) (to the photographer) Did this sign compel you to think any differently about “colored people?”
Cynthia
Marion Post Wolcott- August 1941, Birney, Montana
The setting of this photograph looks indoors. It actually could also be outdoors. The lighting is fair. It looks like there is a light directly above this portion of the photograph. This photograph looks like it takes place in a suburban city or town, probably in a restaurant or bar. I cannot tell what time of day this picture is taking place in but it looks like it is late afternoon. I do not see any people in this photograph. A distinguishing feature in this photograph is the “God Bless America” sign in the middle of a segregated bar/restaurant. Something that catches my eye first is the sign that says “positively no beer sold to Indians.” It does not look like there are any structures in this photograph other than the building this photograph was taken in. This building itself looks old. The tone of this photograph is heavy, negative, and dark because the sign segregates Indians. My response to this photograph is anger because there is a God Bless America sign next to the sign that is segregating Indians. Under the words “God Bless America” there is the phrase “We are proud to be Americans”. This statement makes me mad. Why would anyone be proud to live in a country where there is segregation? Indians live in America too. Why are they still segregated?
1.) (to the owner of this restaurant) Why do you not sell beer to Indians?
2.) (to the photographer) How did seeing this segregating sign and the “God Bless America” sign together make you feel?
Sean K.
Esther Bubley, 1943
This is a picture of a sign that says, "colored waiting room" at a Greyhound bus station in urban Rome, Georgia. This picture was taken during the day. There are no people in this picture. The thing that catches my eyes most is the sign it self. I think that the sign is completely wrong moraly. There are many businesses in the background around the sign, because it is in an urban town. This is a light picture, and I think it shows a bad view of that time.
My response to this photo is that it is wrong in many ways. I would say this because it is the african americans that they may not sit in the same room or ride the same bus as the white people. Separating whites and African Americans incorrect. I do not think that that is right at all. All people in this world were created equally. They were not meant to separated or hated by each other.
1) Why did this one sign stand out to you?
2) Does this sign mean anything significant to you?
Sean K.
Marion Post Wolcott, 1939
This is a picture of a white only Farmers Café in North Carolina. This picture was taken during the day. This café is in the urban area of the North Carolina. There are two people in the picture. One is a mid-aged man were a shirt and tie, and the other is a waitress who likes in her twenties, and is wearing a dress. The waitress is serving the man his food in the picture. The thing in the picture that catches my eye is the Farmers Café sign in the window. The reason why is that the sign is so creative and colorful. You can tell that there are other buildings around it because there is a reflection of other buildings from the glass of the window. I think this is a negative picture because it is a white’s only café.
1) Did you take this picture because you thauht is was a very good way to show segregation or did you take it to show the cafe?
2) What intrigued you about this café, instead of all of the other cafés?
My repsonse to this picture is that it is a horrible picture. Whites and African Americans should be able to eat together. What is the big deal if you share a table with a african american? It is not right that you have to be seperated to eat food. I don't see what the big deal is if an African American sat down at one of those soda counters? Isn't everyone suppost to be equal?
Sean K.
Russell Lee, 1939
This is a picture of the Gem Movie Theatre for colored people in urban Memphis, Tennessee. The picture was taken during the day. There are no people in this picture. The thing that catches my eyes in this picture is the words GEM THEATRE. I would say this because the words are just written so big that it caught your attention so quickly. Since this is a picture of a sign, you are not able tell if there are any buildings around the theatre. This picture is in a mild manor. I would say this picture has a negative perspective.
My response to this picture is that it is horrible to have to have to different movie theatres because of a persons color. People should just put aside their differences and by happy. Why can’t people go to a movie together? Oh my god, what is the big deal if you sit next to a white man or a african american? Why must there be racial differences? Every one should just be happy and get along.
1) Have you ever been to one of these colored only movie theatres?
2) What part of this sign caught your attention the most?
Billy Hull
Dorothea Lange, June 1937
This picture was taken outside of the Rex Theater for Colored People. This was a more urban area of the town and it was taken during the day. In this picture, I only see a small building in bad shape that was reserved for African Americans. The first thing that catches my eye is the giant sign that says "colored people." This seems to me to be a major insult to African Americans. The tone of this picture seems negative because of the huge, insulting sign on the building and because that is the only thing in the photograph. This picture makes me upset because this was a very sad time in American history. African Americans were being segregated just because of the color of their skin. This racial hatred shouldn't have occured and should not occur in the future.
1) What were you thinking when you took this photograph?
2) How did taking this photograph affect your views on civil rights?
Billy Hull
Jack Delano, May 1940
This picture was taken inside a train station in North Carolina at a colored waiting room. The person in the foreground looks very sad and is turning away from everything. This was what caught my eye first and then I discovered the sign above the persons head. The person looks very enclosed inside the train station. The tone of this photograph is negative because the person looks sad and the rest of the photograph is very bleak. I think this defines segregation because blacks and whites were not even allowed to stand or sit next to eachother. Also, it shows how depressed and neglected the African American population was.
1) Why did you take this photograph?
2) Did you receive any comments by going to the "colored" side of the train station?
Billy Hull
Esther Bubley, September 1943
This picture was taken outside of a restaurant during the day in a rural area. The shack in the picture is very raggedy and has a sign saying "colored dining room in rear." The sign does catch my eye first because it definitely demonstates racial hatred. The shack is so beaten down and the roof looks like it is about to collapse. The shack is surrounded by woods and is in a very random position. The tone of the photograph is negative because the sign suggests that African mericans are not good anough to dine in the front of the restaurant. This photograph also upsets me because the white population is saying that African Americans are not good enough to even eat in the same room as them. Alo, they add another insult by posting this sign on a very dilapidated, old shack.
1) What was your initial reaction when you saw this picture?
2) Why was the shack in the middle of the woods?
Michaela Curry
November 25
Walker Evens- Summer 1963
-This photo was taken outside on a sunny day in urban Greensboro, Alabama.
-There are no people in this picture, it is only a store window saying how much food costs. What first caught my eye was the prices; juice for just 49 cents, potatoes for 10, and sugar for only 54 cents.
-A building in nice condition is in the picture, but you can't see if there is anything surrounding the shop; it is a close up on the window.
-This is a light, positive, light photo.
My response to this picture is that prices were a lot lower in Greensboro, Alabama back in 1963 than they are now in Connecticut in 2008. Also i wonder if alot of people are still buying because of the depression and loss of jobs.
QUESTIONS;
The first question I would ask is to the owner of the store and that would be how is the depression affecting your buisness?
Second I would ask is to the photographer and that is what intrested you to take this photo?
Marion Post Wolcott- October 1939
-This photo was taken outside on a sunny day in urban Memphis, Tennessee.-There are three African American men wearing suits and dress hats in their late twentys, and an older women in a skirtand coat. The first thing that catches my eye is that the sign says, "Hotel Clark, The Best Service for Colored Only," that seemed strange to me because we do not have segregation anymore.
-There is a colored hotel in the picture. It looks clean and like it would be nice inside. There are more shops and housing attatched to the brick building.
-The tone is light, negative, and light.
My response to this picture is that segregation was a normal part of everyday life back in 1939. That is so much differant than our lives now, now we dont have any segregation at all becasue every person is just as equal as everyone else. This picture is saying that this hotel was for colored people only and whites are not allowed.
QUESTIONS;
The first question i would ask is to the photagrapher and that is what intrested them about the scence, and are they for segregation?
Second i would ask the people whether or not they think that segregation and racism is right?
Russel Lee- November 1939
-This was taken outside on a sunny day in urban Waco, Texas.
-There are no people in this picture, only the sign to the Gem colored only Theatre. A distingushing feater in this is the soda bottle on the top of it, and what first caught my eye is the fact that it is an only colored theatre.
-There is a close up of a building in good contition in this picture, becasue it is a close up you can not see wheather any other buildings surround the theatre.
-The tone of this photo is light, negative, and light.
My response to this picture is how strange it is to think that there really was a time when blacks and whites were not looked at as equal. This is weird becasue today everyone is looked at the same becasue everyone is equal. But back in Texas in 1939 everyone was segregated because of your color.
QUESTIONS;
The forst question I would ask is to the photagrapher and that is do you think that segregation should be accepted, what intrested you to take this picture?
Second i would ask is to the veiwer and that would be have you ever seen a seperated movie theatre, do you think they still exist today?